Disperceptions of Unknown Cause, 1951

“For every drug that benefits a patient, there is a natural substance that can achieve the same effect.”

-Dr. Carl Pfeiffer

Dr. Harry L. Williams (left) administers LSD to Dr. Carl Pfeiffer, chairman of Emory University’s Pharmacological Department, in 1955

Disperceptions of Unknown Cause

Following the Office of Strategic Services (U.S. Predecessor to the CIA) top secret ‘Truth Serum’ projects (discussed earlier in this blog), the CIA turned there hopes for a more advanced form of weapon, Mind Control…

After rumors that Korea was using drugs to interrogate POW’s during the war, the secret mind control projects of the United States begun…

MK ULTRA was “concerned with “the research and development of chemical, biological, and radiological materials capable of employment in clandestine operations to control human behavior.” The program consisted of some 149 subprojects which the Agency contracted out to various universities, research foundations, and similar institutions. At least 80 institutions and 185 private researchers participated. Because the Agency funded MKUltra indirectly, many of the participating individuals were unaware that they were dealing with the Agency.”

-United States Supreme Court

Dr. Pfeiffer would start experiments with the government at ‘Bordertown Facility’ in New Jersey under unknown projects in 1951(possibly under ‘Artichoke’ or ‘Bluebird’).

With Project Mk Ultra started in 1953, Dr. Pfeiffer would find himself in charge of an extensive secret United States LSD and Drug Program.

scene from Clockwork Orange

In 1955 Dr. Pfeiffer, under Emory University, began another collaboration with the CIA under MK Ultra for ‘behavioral modification experiments’ at Atlanta Penitentiary…

Taking ‘willing’ participants within the prison system, different experiments were performed while under the influence of various drugs.  All these experiments were under the umbrella of the CIA’s secret program.

Dr. Pfeiffer is said to have ran Subproject 9 and eventually expanded to include Subprojects 26, 28, and 47 under the larger MK ULTRA umbrella.

These experiments would use LSD, heroin, morphine, temazepam (used under code name MKSEARCH), mescaline, psilocybin, scopolamine, marijuana, alcohol, sodium pentothal and even some homebrewed superhallucinogens such as ‘3-Quinuclidinyl benzilate'(aka bz) in experiments of the ‘willing’…

“Some of the drug traffickers and criminals held for deportation at Ellis Island were given the option of staying in the United States indefinitely if they ‘volunteered’ for various secret government projects, including CIA-funded Project Artichoke experiments that were just beginning at the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary and various mental hospitals in Louisiana.”

-H.P. Albarelli, Jr.

The first step was to be approached and interviewed by the prison psychologist, Dr. L. Bryan. According to a 1983 lawsuit, ‘Scott v. Casey’, A consent agreement was read to each participant by a medical staff person[5] and required to sign which stated:

“*477 CONTRACT BETWEEN DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOLOGY, EMORY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

and

HUMAN VOLUNTEERS AT U.S. PENITENTIARY, ATLANTA, GEORGIA

Date __________

I, ________, the undersigned applicant, hereby apply for permission to participate in an investigation designed to study the hallucinatory effect of lysergic acid diethylamide, LSD-25, and similar compounds which is being conducted by Emory University School of Medicine in cooperation with the Bureau of Prisons of the Department of Justice. I understand that I will be required to undergo a physical examination, including laboratory tests, in order to ascertain if I am a suitable candidate. I further agree to take the drugs offered me on the day of the experiment. The procedure, the potential benefits to humanity, and the risk to my health of participation in this study have been explained to me by Dr. ________, and I understand that there can be no guarantee that I will not become ill as a result of this experiment. I hereby freely assume all such risks of participation in the investigation.

I further agree to cooperate to the fullest extent with the personnel conducting the investigation during the experimental period. I understand that upon completion of my participation in this experiment, the fact that I have thus voluntarily rendered outstanding service to humanity will be placed in my official record. In addition, I understand that each time I am used as a subject, a sum of $3.00 will be deposited in my trust fund account. No such deposit will be made until the Medical Officer has certified that my participation has been satisfactory.

In consideration of the money referred to above, the other considerations referred to above, and for other good and valuable consideration, receipt of which in full is hereby acknowledged by me, I, acting for myself, my heirs, personal representatives, my estate and my assigns, do hereby release Emory University, the doctors, physicians, their assistants and all others participating in this experimental program from all liability of any kind or character, including claims and suits in law or in equity for damages, injury or death which may result to me or to my property from my participation in this experimental investigation.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix my seal this the ____ day of _________, 19____.

_____________________________________

SIGNATURE OF INMATE APPLICANT”